Navajo Dam, New Mexico Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 269, Navajo Dam's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Navajo Dam is a small community located in New Mexico, within San Juan County. The total population is 269. It ranks as the 329th most populous out of 495 Census-designated places in New Mexico.

Age Demographics

The median age in Navajo Dam is 65.0 years. This is 65% higher than the state median of 39.4 years. Only 9.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 10.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Navajo Dam is $12,011. This is 81% lower than the state median of $64,059. It is also 85% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 41.6%. This is 133% higher than the state poverty rate of 17.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 24.5%. This is 310% higher than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $162,500. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $248,100. The home-value-to-income ratio of 13.5x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 43% higher than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Navajo Dam is Hispanic or Latino, making up 49.4% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 41.6%.

Education

14.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% lower than the state rate of 31.0%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 97.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Navajo Dam, New Mexico is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against New Mexico state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 495 Census-designated places in New Mexico. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.